University Chemistry ›› 2022, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (9): 2203097.doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202203097

Special Issue:

• Science Education • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Toxin on the Tip of the Tongue: Tetrodotoxin

Yuling Zhang1, Lichun Zhang2,*()   

  1. 1 Analytical and Testing Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
    2 College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
  • Received:2022-03-31 Accepted:2022-05-23 Published:2022-09-02
  • Contact: Lichun Zhang E-mail:zhanglichun@scu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Pufferfish culture is a wonderful chapter in the history of China's food culture. Tetrodotoxin, which is present in the body of pufferfish, is a powerful non-protein neurotoxin that mainly acts through highly selective blockage of the voltage-gated sodium channel. Tetrodotoxin is one of the deadliest toxins, with a lethal dose range of 1.5–2.0 mg. However, tetrodotoxin has been found to exhibit unique therapeutic properties for the treatment of neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and drug withdrawal when administered well below LD50 levels. This paper briefly describes the analytical process for the structure of tetrodotoxin and introduces its action mechanism and future application prospects in medical treatment.

Key words: Tetrodotoxin, Neurotoxin, Sodium channel